Sewing machine



y 2, 1967 R. s. SHELTON 3,316,866

SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21., 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- RUSSELL S. SHELTON BY M 4% JMJ A TTORNEYJ' y 2, 1967 R. s. SHELTON 3,316,866

SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RUSSELL S. SHELTON M, 4M M mg,

. 1 rromwzm y 2, 1967 R. s. SHELTON 3,316,866

SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

RUSSELL S. SHELTON BY 13 W 4% M A TTORNEY May 2, 1967 R. s. SHELTON 3,316,366

SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 EE- k? i g 14d I v a M x a 0 k K3 Q j I g o N m INVENTOR. RUSSELL S. SHELTON U9: BY

A TTORNE YvS' y 2, 1957' R. s. SHELTON v 3,316,866

SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. RUSSELL S. SHELTON A TTORNE Y6 United States Patent 3,316,866 SEWING MACHINE Russell S. Shelton, Paducah, Ky., assignor to Southern Textile Machinery Co., Inc., Paducah, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed Apr. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 361,461 19 Claims. (Cl. 112-25) This invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to improvements in dial looper sewing machines of the type conventionally employed to link knitted fabrics by use of a continuous chain of stitches.

Sewing machines of the dial looper type are employed in the manufacture of knitted articles, such as sweaters or the like, to sew together portions of the article which are knitted separately on knitting machines. These dial looper sewing machines conventionally include an endless series of work impaling points mounted on and extended radially from a circular dial which is rotated to advance the individual points successively past a stitch forming station at which a thread needle is projected longitudinally along each of the respective points to penetrate and carry a thread through work impaled on the points. A looper device engages the thread which is carried through the work and, in cooperation with the needle, manipulates the thread to form a continuous chain of stitches joining the pieces of work impaled on the points of the dial.

To join two pieces of work on machines of this type, an operator working at a station remote from the stitch forming station manually places the work on the points of the machine, taking care to place successive loops on successive points, with the two pieces of work superimposed one upon the other on the points. As the dial is continuously rotated the work is carried to the stitch forming station where the needle is projected longitudinally along the successive points to pass through the loops of material impaled on each point. A looper engages the thread which has been carried through the work by the needle and, as

the needle is retracted, the looper carries a loop of thread in counter-rotation to the dial so that upon the next projection, the needle will pass through the loop. The looper must then release the loop and again engage the thread on the needle before the needle is again retracted to form the next successive stitch. Thus, it is seen that the looper and needle must cooperate in closely timed relation and within very narrow mechanical tolerances, even when opcrating at relatively high speeds, to assure perfect stitch formation.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide improved needle and looper actuating and control mechanisms in a high speed dial looper sewing machine.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a dial looper sewing machine with needle and looper actuating and control mechanisms which afford greater flexibility of movement and control of both the needle and of the looper.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dial looper sewing machine having an improved looper support and control mechanism including means for varying the speed of movement of the looper during different portions of the looping cycle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dial looper sewing machine having a mechanism to manipulate the looper in coordination with movement of the needle in a manner to improve the formation of each stitch.

In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects an important feature of the invention resides in mounting the looper on the free end of an elongated support rod which is movable axially along its longitudinal axis and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis to manipulate the looper for cooperation with the needle to form the stitches. A separate linkage mechanism is provided to impart each of these three components of movement to the support rod independently. Each of the linkage mechanisms is actuated by a separate con.- tinuously rotating cam and cam follower mechanism, and each contains adjustment means for varying the magnitude of motion imparted to the support rod for a given movement of the cam follower.

A curved thread needle is mounted for oscillatory move ment along the points from a position inwardly of the points, and for limited rotational movement in the plane of the points about the central axis of the dial. A support arm is pivotally mounted at the central axis of the dial and carries a curved track upon which is mounted a needle carriage supporting a curved needle, the curved track and needle extending generally radially of the dial and the curvature of the track and needle being within a plane normal to the plane of the points. A continuously rotating cam and follower mechanism acting through a linkage, slides the needle carriage along the curved track to project and retract the needle along the points carried on the dial. A second cam actuated linkage mechanism is mounted on the support arm to oscillate the support arm about its pivotal mounting so that the support arm and the mechanism carried thereby, including the needle, is advanced simultaneously with the dial while the needle is projected along one of the points on the dial, then returned to the initial position when the needle is retracted.

A common drive shaft extending axially of the dial drives each of the cams moving the looper as well as the cams moving the needle, and also, acting through a clutch drive mechanism, continuously rotates the dial, thereby assuring synchronous operation of the needle, looper and dial.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dial .looper sewing machine embodying the present invention;

FIGURE l-A, is a front elevation view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 and disclosing an alternate method of supporting the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine with a portion of the housing removed to expose the looper drive mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is .a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed plan view similar to FIGURE 2 with certain parts removed or broken away to more clearly disclose other parts;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with different parts illustrated or removed;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed front elevation view of the looper support means, with parts broken away to more clearly disclose other parts;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed view of the needle and dial drive mechanisms of the machine shown in FIGURE 1, with parts broken away to expose other parts;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed sectional view taken approximately on line 99 of FIGURE 8 FIGURE 10 is a detailed Ill-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a detailed 11-11 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a detailed 12-12 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 13 is a bottom chine shown in FIGURE 1;

sectional view taken on line sectional view taken on line sectional view taken on line plan of a portion of the ma- FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1; and,

. FIGURE 15 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 1515 of FIGURE 14.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a sewing machine according to the present invention, illustrated generally by the numeral 10, is shown in FIGURE 1 supported from its top by a rigid overhanging frame 12 in a manner conventional of bench mounted machines, and in FIGURE 1A as supported at the base of machine 10 on a pedestal 14, again in conventional manner. The sewing machines illustrated in FIGURES l and 1A are identical except for the means for supporting the machine in the operating position, which means form no part of this invention.

The sewing machine 10 includes a base assembly 16 and a mechanism housing 18. Housing 18 includes a slightly conical disc shaped work support 20, a central hollow support column 22 and a radially extending arm 24 projecting from column 22 above work support for housing the looper mechanism. A plurality of thread bobbins 25, as desired, may be supported on housing 18. Arm 24 includes removable top or cover sections 26, 28 retained in position by suitable means such as bolts 31 Extending downwardly from the distal end of arm 24 is a looper support mechanism 32 including a rigid support shaft 34. Mounted on the lower end of shaft 34, and extending radially inwardly therefrom is a presser foot 35.

An endless series of work impaling points 36 are mounted on and extend radially from an annular dial 38 which, in turn, is rotatably supported on an annular track or support surface 40 in base 16 for rotation relative thereto. A curved needle 42 is mounted at a stitch forming station radially inward from points 36, in a manner more fully described hereinbelow for oscillatory movement along successive work impaling points 36 to penetrate and carry a thread 44 through work (not shown) impaled on points 36. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 7, a looper is positioned radially outward from the points 36 at the stitch forming station, in position to engage thread 44 carried by needle 42 when the needle is projected along one of the points 36, to form and retain a loop in the thread as the needle is retracted, and to position the loop so that the needle passes through the loop on the next successive projection along the next successive point. Looper 50 includes a substantially crescent-shaped body portion 52 and a laterally displaced end or hook portion 54 for engaging the thread carried by the needle. Looper 50 is mounted on the lower free end of a downwardly depending elongated support rod 56 by a suitable means such as set screw 58. Also, means such as clamp 60 and set screw 61 may be provided for adjusting the position of looper 50 axially and rotationally with respect to support rod 56.

Looper support rod 56 extends through and is laterally supported by a spherical bearing 62 retained in mounting bracket 64 on support shaft 34. Rod 56 may move axially through spherical bearing 62, and pivotally about the radial center of bearing 62, but is restrained against lateral movement at this support point. Rod 56 also extends through a second spherical bearing 66, adjacent the upper end of shaft 56, and may move axially through and pivotally about the radial center of spherical bearing 66 but is restrained against lateral movement at the bearing. A suitable shield or guard 67 is supported on shaft 34 and surrounds rod 56.

Rod 56 is supported for axial movement by a link 70 extending substantially parallel to the upper portion of rod 56, and having its lower end 72 attached thereto. End 72 extends substantially at right angles to link 70 and is retained in a standard spherical rod end 73 which, in turn, is fixedly secured on rod 56 by nut 74. The upper end 76 of rod 70 is bent to extend at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of rod '70, and is retained in a standard spherical rod end,78.

Spherical rod end 78 forms a part of an arm 79 which is rotatably fixed on a horizontally extending rotatable shaft 80 for limited oscillatory rotation therewith. A second arm 82 is rotatably fixed on shaft 80 and extends substantially vertically with respect thereto. The arms 79 and 82 rotatably fixed on the rotatable shaft 80 form, in effect, a bell crank which, acting through link 70, supports and positions rod 56 axially within spherical bearings 62 and 66.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 5 in particular, the means for manipulating the looper 50 to form the loops in thread 44 will be described in detail. An elongated drive shaft journaled in suitable bearings 92 in central column 22 of housing 18 and in base 16 is rotated about its longitudinal axis by suitable drive means, not shown, and has rotatably fixed thereon within cover section 26 a gear belt pulley 94. A second shaft 96 is mounted substantially parallel to shaft 90 at a point laterally spaced therefrom along housing arm 24, and is rotatably supported by suitable bearings 98 in bearing block 99 supported on mounting bracket 100 which, in turn, is retained by suitable means such as bolts 102 on arm 24. A second gear belt pulley 104 is rotatably fixed on the upper end of the shaft 96, and a gear belt 105 extends around pulleys 94 and 104 to drive shaft 96 for rotation about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of shaft 90.

Rotatably fixed on shaft 96, at a point between bearing 98 and gear belt 104, is a substantially disc-shaped wheel 106 having a continuous cam track 108 formed in its lower surface. A second substantially disc-shaped wheel 110 having a first continuous cam track 112 formed in its upper surface and a second continuous cam track 114 formed in its bottom surface is rotatably fixed on shaft 90 at a point below bracket 100. i

A motion transmitting lever arm 116 is pivotally mounted to the top surface of bracket 100 by a suitable pin 118. Arm 116 extends beneath the lower surface of wheel 106, and carries a freely rotatable cam follower wheel 120 disposed within carn track 108 to pivot arm 116 about pivot pin 118 upon rotation of wheel 106 about its vertical axis. An elongated connecting rod 122 has one end fixed by a spherical rod end 124 to arm 116, and its opposite end fixed through spherical bearing 126 to the bell crank arm 82. Means, such as threaded rod 128 and lock nut-s 130, are provided to adjust the position of the spherical rod end 124 longitudinally along arm 126, and corresponding means, such as threaded rod 132, is provided to adjust the spherical bearing 126 laterally from arm 82. Thus, it can be seen that, by adjusting the position of rod 122 along rod 128, the amount of longitudinal movement imparted to rod 122, and therefore the amount of rotational movement of bell crank arm 82 may be readily varied without varying the configuration of cam track 108.

Formed on the edge 134 of bracket 100 is an elongated horizontal platform 136 having a top surface coplanar with the top surface of bracket 100. A pair of parallel spaced guide bars 138 are retained on the top surface of projection 136 by bolts 140 and washers 142. Washers 142 extend over the edges of bars 138 to engage the top surface of and retain a slide 144 disposed between the two bars 138 on the top surface of projection 136. A bolt 146 extends downwardly through one end of slide 144 and through an elongated slot 148 and bracket 100 to support a cam follower 150 within the cam track 112 formed in the top surface of wheel 110. A sec-ond bolt 152 extends downwardly through the opposite end of slide 144 and projects downwardly therefrom to support a second cam follower 154.

Extending transversely of arm 24, substantially parallel to shaft 80 and bracket 100, is a rotatably fixed guide shaft 156. A carriage 158 is slideably mounted on shaft 156 and has an elongated support bracket 160 formed thereon which retains and supports spherical bearing 66 engaging the top of support rod 56. To prevent rotation of carriage 158 about shaft 156, bracket 158 has a groove 162 formed therein which engages a guide block 164 rotatably mounted on shaft 80. Mounted on the top surface of carriage 158 is a straight cam track 166, formed by securing a pair of straight bars 168 in laterally spaced parallel relation by suitable means such as screws 170 and spacing blocks 172. Track 166 is positioned at an oblique angle to slide 144 and to shafts 80 and 156. Cam follower 1'54 is disposed within cam track 166 so that longitudinal movement of slide 144 in a direction perpendicular to shafts 80 and 156 will impart lateral sliding movement to carriage 158 along shafts 80 and 156. The angle at which the track 166 is disposed with respect to shafts 80 and 156 may be adjusted so that the amount of sliding movement imparted to carriage 158, and thereby to hearing 66, may be varied for any given configuration of cam track 112.

A laterally extending arm 174 is fixedly secured to the top of rod 56, as by screw 176. A spherical rod end 178 is retained on the distal end of arm 174 by suitable means such as nut 180. Rod end 178 projects downwardly from arm '174 and pivotally supports the end of a connecting rod 182 which has its other end pivotally connected, as by spherical rod end 184, to the end of a reciprocably mounted slide 186. Slide 186 is retained for reciprocal longitudinal movement in track 188 formed by mounting a pair of parallel laterally spaced bars 190 on a flat surface 192 formed in the bottom of arm 24. Bars 190 are secured by a plurality of screws 194 and washers 196 which extend over the edge of members 190 to retain slide 186 against vertical movement. A cam track 200 is fixedly secured to the top of slide 186 and is disposed at an oblique angle thereto. Cam track 200 includes a pair of straight bars 202 retained in parallel spaced relation by screws 264 and spacing blocks 206.

A slide member 210 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocal movement in a track 212 disposed at substantially right angles to track 188 and mounted on a raised platform 214 in the bottom of arm 24. Slide track 212 includes a pair of straight laterally spaced parallel bars 216 retained in position by a plurality of screws 218 and washers 220 which extend over the edge of bars 216 to prevent vertical movement of slide 210. Mounted on the top surface of slide 210 is a cam follower 222 disposed within cam track 114. A second cam follower 224 is mounted on the lower, or bottom surface of slide 210, adjacent an end thereof and projecting over the edge of platform 214, with cam follower 224 disposed within cam track 200.

Thus, rotation of wheel I10, acting through cam track 114 and cam follower 222, will impart reciprocal movement to slide 210 along track 212. This movement of slide 210, acting through cam follower 224 and cam track 200, will impart reciprocal motion to slide 186 along track 188 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of slide 210. Reciprocal movement of slide 186, acting through rod 182 and arm 174 will rotate rod '56 within spherical bearings 66 and 62. The amount of rotation imparted to rod 56 may be varied by adjusting the angle at which track 200 is disposed with respect to slide 110.

From the above, it can be seen that rotation of shaft 96 will cause movement of support rod 56, and consequently of looper 50, pivotally about a point intermediate the ends of rod 56, and axially along and rotationally about the longitudinal axis of the rod. Each of these movements is controlled by a separate cam, and means is provided for adjusting the magnitude of each of the movements separately without changing the configuration of the cam.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings, it can be seen that drive shaft 90 extends downwardly through column 22 and is journ-aled in suitable bearings 92 in base 16. To facilitate assembly of the machine, shaft 92 may be formed in two parts and joined together within column 22 by suitable means such as coupling 230. Shaft may be driven for rotation by any suitable means such as an electric motor and gear box 232 shown in phantom in FIGURE 1A, and a hand wheel 233 may be provided to manually turn the shaft to position the mechanism.

A needle support arm 236 is pivotally mounted, as by bearings 238, for limited rotation about central shaft 90. Arm 236 includes a pair of parallel vertically spaced arms 240, and rotatably fixed on shaft 90 between arms 240 is a wheel 242 having a first cam track 244 formed in its top surface and a second cam track 246 formed in its bottom surface. A cam follower 248, disposed within cam track 244, is mounted upon slide 259 slideably mounted in a track 252 which extends radially from shaft 90 along one of the arms 248. An elongated connecting arm 254 is pivotally connected at one end by a suitable means such as screw 256 to slide 250, and extends radially therefrom and is pivotally connected at the other end by suitable means such as screw 258 to a needle carriage 268. Carriage 260 is slideably mounted on a curved track 262 carried on the end of arm 236. Fixedly secured on carriage 260, as by set screw 264, is the curved needle 42. Curved track 262 and curved needle 42 are mounted substantially radially with respect to dial 38 and shaft 98 with the curvature of the track and needle being within a radial plane. Curved track 262 is mounted by suitable means such as bolts 268 to the uppei surface of arm 236 adjacent the outer end thereof. Thread guide 270 may also be mounted on track 262 by one of the bolts 268.

Slideably mounted within a radially extending track 272 (see FIGURE 11) formed on the bottom surface of arm 236 is a connecting arm 274 having a cam follower 276 mounted to its upper surface, adjacent the inboard end thereof, and disposed Within cam track 246. A second cam follower 273 mounted to the bottom surface of arm 274, adjacent the outboard end thereof, is disposed within a cam track 286 mounted on a pedestal 281 in the base 16. Track 286 is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the radially extending arm 274. Cam track 280 includes a pair of parallel laterally spaced bars 282 retained in said spaced relation by screws 284 and spacer blocks 286 (see FIGURE 10). Suitable means (not shown) may be provided to adjust the angle at which cam track 288 is oriented with relation to radially extending slide 274.

Thus, it can be seen that rotation of shaft. 98 will cause rotation of wheel 242 which, acting through cam track 244 and follower 248 will impart radial reciprocal movement to connecting rod 254 which, in turn, will cause needle carriage 260 to be oscillated in a generally radial direction along curved track 262 to project and retract needle 42 along work impaling points 36. At the same time, Wheel 242 acting through cam track 246 and cam follower 276 will impart radial reciprocal movement to arm 274 which will cause cam follower 278 to move longitudinally along cam track 280. Since cam track 280 is disposed at an angle with respect to the radial arm 240, reciprocal movement of cam follower 278 will impart rotary oscillatory movement to arm 236 about pivotal bearings 238. Cam track 246 is so designed that arm 236 will be rotated at a speed and in a direction so that needle 42 will be advanced simultaneously with points 36 when the needle is projected along one of those points, then quickly returned to the initial position when the needle is retracted clear of the points. Since cam tracks 244 and 246 are formed in the same member, it is not possible for the radial and rotary movement of the needle to become out of synchronization.

Referring again to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings, the means for continuously driving the dial 38 will now be described. A gear belt pulley 290 is rotatably fixed on shaft 98 and, acting through gear belt 292, continuously rotates worm 294 which, in turn, continuously drives gear wheel 296. Gear wheel 296 is mounted upon shaft 298 and is freely movable both axially and rotationally with respect thereto. Shaft 2% is rotatably mounted in bearing block 300 in base 16, and carries a bevel gear 302 rotatably fixed to its radially outboard end which engages an annular ring of gear teeth 304 formed on the bottom surface of dial 38 for continuously rotating dial 38 about its vertical axis upon rotation of wheel 302. Clutch means 306 is provided between gear wheel 296 and shaft 298, and includes two pair of oppositely disposed clutch plates formed with interfitting radially extending serrations 308 to pro vide a positive drive between gear wheel 2% and shaft 298 when the clutch is engaged. Suitable gear belt tightening means 310 are provided to maintain gear belt 292 under proper tension to prevent slippage on gear belt pulleys 290 or 294.

Clutch 366 is actuated by an arm 312 pivotally mounted to base 16 as by screw 314 and having a free end 316 engaging a bearing 313 on the inner face of gear wheel 296. Arm 312 is rotated about screw 314 to engage clutch 366 by the cam surface 326 on the end of an arm. 3.22 pivotally mounted to the base 16 as by screw means 324. Arm 322 is actuated by a linkage 326 extending through base 16 and connected, as by welding, to a ring 32% extending around a pedestal mounting ring 330 of base 16. To actuate the clutch, an operator may rotate ring 328 which, acting through linkage 326 will rotate arm 322 to engage cam surface 320 with arm 312 thereby rotating arm 312 about pivot point or screw 314 to engage or disengage the clutch, as desired.

As shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, means are provided for manually rotating the dial ring 33 to position the dial with respect to the stitch forming station when clutch 366 is disengaged. This manual positioning means includes a vertically extending shaft 340 journaled for rotation in suitable bearings 342 by a hand wheel 344 (see FIG- URE l) to rotate a bevel gear 346 rotatably fixed to the top of shaft 346 within the base 16. A second bevel gear 348 is rotatably fixed on a radially extending shaft 35% mounted for rotation in suitable bearing block 352. A drive gear 354 is mounted on the outer end of shaft 350 and meshes with gears 364 formed in ring 38. Thus, rotation of shaft 34%) by hand wheel 34-4, acting through bevel gears 346 and 348 and shaft 350' will cause rotation of gear 354 to drive ring 38 for rotation upon track In the operation of a dial looper sewing machine constructed in accordance with this invention, as described above, an operator impales work upon the individual points 36 of the dial38 at a work station remote from the stitch forming station in a conventional manner. The centrally disposed drive shaft 90 is rotated to continuously drive dial 38 to advance points 36 past the stitch forming' station. At the same time, shaft 90 continuously drives cam wheel 242 and shaft 96. Shaft 96 is rotated at the same rate as shaft 90 and wheels 106 and 110 likewise are driven at the same rate. Thus, cam tracks 244, 246, 108, 112, and 114 are rotated at the same rate as shaft 90, and dial 38, being driven by shaft 90, is rotated at a rate proportional to the rate of rotation of shaft 90. Thus, synchronous movement of all of the moving parts of the machine is always assured.

Since each component of movement of both the needle 42 and of the looper 59 is controlled by a separate cam actuated mechanism, both the rate and time of actuation of the mechanism for any particular component of movement may be varied by varying the configuration of the particular cam track involved. For example, the cam track 246 is so designed that needle 42 is advanced at a rate exactly corresponding to the rate of movement of points 36 during that portion of the stitch forming cycle in which needle is projected along one of the points 36. However, upon retraction of the needle 42 to a position inwardly from points 36, the pivotal movement of arm 236 about shaft 90 is quickly reversed and the needle is moved relatively quickly to the initial position in time to commence another cycle. By the 5% simple expedient of adjusting the angle at which cam 280 is disposed with respect to the radially extending slide 272, the rate and amount of needle advance can be varied to adapt the machines to various point spacings without changing the configuration of cam track 246.

Since relatively little force is required to project and retract the needle( due to the fact that relatively little mass is involved and the arcuate movement of the needle and carriage approaches a straight line reciprocal movement), movement of needle 42 may be delayed in the retracted position to permit return of support arm to the initial position, then quickly projected along one of the points 36 and a second delay effected before the needle is again retracted, thereby making it possible to employ a slower movement of the looper.

Similarly with regard to movement of the looper, since relatively little mass, and consequently relatively little force is required to move the looper and support rod rotatably and axially, as compared to the mass involved and the force required to pivot the support rod to impart lateral movement to the looper, these different components of movement may be accomplished at varying rates. For example, the support rod may be quickly rotated to impart a hooking action to the looper during the second delay of the needle while the needle is projected along a point to pick off the loop of thread, then more lesiurely pivoted and moved axially to position the loop to be penetrated by the next projection of the needle. However, once the needle has commenced to penetrate the loop, the looper must drop this loop and quickly move to pick up another loop. This rapid movement of the looper may be largely accomplished by vertical and rotary movement of the support rod during the brief dwell of the needle in the projected position.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto, but that I do intend to cover all embodiments thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial, a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, and a looper supported outwardly of said points for engaging the thread carried by the needle and cooperating therewith to form a chain stitch, a needle manipulating mechanism comprising an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to the plane of the points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, means mounting said needle on said carriage for movement therewith, and means operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving the needle carriage along said track to move said needle carried thereby in a curved path along successive points.

2. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial, a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points and a looper supported outwardly of said points to engage the thread carried by the needle and cooperate therewith to form a chain stitch, a needle manipulating. mechanism comprising an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to the plane of the points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, means mounting said needle on said carriage for movement therewith, means operable simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving the needle carriage along said track to project and retract said needle carried thereby in a curved path along successive points, and means for advancing said track and said needle with the points when said needle is projected alongone of the points and returning said track and said needle to an initial position when said needle is retracted.

3. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial, a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, and a looper supported outwardly from said points for engaging the thread carried by the needle and cooperating therewith to form a chain stitch, a needle manipulating mechanism comprising an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to the plane of the points, means mounting said needle on said carriage for movement therewith, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, and a cam actuated linkage operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving the needle carriage block along said track to move said needle carried thereby in a curved path along successive points.

4. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial, a needle movable along sucessive points to carry thread through work impaled on the points, and a looper supported outwardly of said points for engaging the thread carried by the needle and cooperating therewith to form a chain stitch, a needle manipulating mechanism comprising an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to the plane of the points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, means mounting said needle on said carriage for movement therewith, means operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving said needle carriage along said track to project and retract said needle carried thereby in a curved path along successive points, and a cam actuated linkage mechanism operated simultaneously with rotation of said dial for advancing said track and needle with the points when said needle is projected along one of the points and returning said track and needle to an initial position when said needle is retracted.

5. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial, a needle movable along successive points to carry thread through work impaled upon the points, and a looper supported outwardly of said points for engaging the thread carried by the needle and cooperating therewith to form a chain stitch, a needle manipulating mechanism comprising an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to the plane of the points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, means mounting said needle on said carriage for movement therewith, a cam actuated linkage mechanism operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving said needle carriage along said track to project and retract said needle carried thereby in a curved path along successive points, and a cam actuated linkage mechanism operated simultaneously with rotation of said dial for advancing said track and the needle with the points when the needle is projected along one of the points and returning said track and the needle to an initial position when the needle is retracted.

6. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, a looper mechanism comprising a downwardly extending rod, means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis rotatably about its longitudinal axis, and pivotally about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, and a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried through the work by the needle.

7. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, a looper mechanism comprising a downwardly extending rod, means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, rotatably about its longitudinal axis, and pivotally about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried through the work by said needle, and a cam actuated linkage mechanism operable simultaneously with rotation of the dial and engaging the upper portion of said rod to move said upper portion laterally to pivot said rod about said longitudinal axis.

8. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, a looper mechanism comprising a downwardly extending rod, a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried through the work by the needle, means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, rotatably about its longitudinal axis, and pivotally about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, and a cam actuated linkage mechanism operable simultaneously with rotation of said dial and engaging said rod to position said rod along said l0ngitudinal axis.

9. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, a looper mechanism comprising a downwardly extending rod, a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried by the needle, means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, and pivotally about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, and a cam actuated linkage mechanism operable simultaneously with rotation of said dial and engaging said rod to rotate said rod about said longitudinal axis.

10. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled from the points, a looper mechanism comprising a downwardly extending rod, a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried through the work by the needle, means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, and pivotally about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, said rod supporting means including a first cam actuated linkage mechanism engaging said rod and movable laterally simultaneously with rotation of the dial to pivot said rod about said laterally extending axis, a second cam actuated linkage mechanism engaging said rod and operable simultaneously with rotation of said dial for positioning said rod along said longitudinal axis, and a third earn actuated linkage mechanism operable simultaneously with rotation of said dial and engaging said rod for rotating said rod about said longitudinal axis.

11. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, a looper supported outwardly of said points for engaging the thread carried by the needle and cooperating therewith to form a chain stitch, the improvement comprising an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to the plane of the points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, means operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving the needle carriage block along said track to move said needle carnied thereby in a curved path along successive points, a downwardly depending rod having a looper element supported on the lower end thereof outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate thread carried through the work by said needle, and means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, rotatably about its longitudinal axis, and pivotally about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis.

12. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extend-ing radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, the improvement comprising, a looper mechanism including downwardly extending rod, a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried through work by the needle, means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, rotatably about its longitudinal axis, and pivotally about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, and a needle manipulating mechanism including an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to the plane of the points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, means operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving the needle carriage along said track to move said needle carried thereby in a curved path along said points, and means for advancing said track and said needle with the points when said needle is projected along one of the points and returning said carriage and said needle to an initial position when said needle is retracted.

13. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impal-ing points extending radially from a. rotatable dial and a needle movable along the successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, the improvement comprises, a looper mechanism including .a downwardly extending rod, means supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, rotatably about its longitudinal axis and pivotally about .an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried through the work by the needle, and needle manipulating means including an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in the plane normal to the plane points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, a cam actuated linkage mechanism operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial tor moving the needle carriage along said track to move said needle carried thereby in a curved path along successive points, and a cam actuated linkage mechanism operated simultaneously with rotation of said points for advancing said needle with the points when said needle is projected along one of the points and returning said carriage and said needle to an initial position when said needle is retracted.

14. In a dial looper sewing machine having work impaling points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, the improvement comprising, a looper mechanism including a downwardly extending rod, a looper element on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly of the dial points to engage and manipulate the thread carried through the work by the needle, a first cam actuated linkage mechanism supporting said rod for movement axially along its longitudinal axis, a second cam actuated linkage mechanism engaging and rotating said rod about said longitudinal axis, and a third cam actuated linkage mechanism engaging said rod to rotate said rod about an axis extending laterally of said longitudinal axis, and a needle manipulating mechanism including an arcuate track curved inwardly and upwardly from the points in a plane normal to a plane of the points, a needle carriage slideably mounted on said arcuate track, means operated simultaneously with rotation of the dial for moving the needle carriage along said track to move said needle carried thereby in a curved mass along successive points.

15. A dial looper sewing machine comprising an endless series of Work impal-ing points extending radially from a rotatable dial and a needle movable along successive points to carry a thread through work impaled on the points, a housing including a support column extending upwardly from the plane of said points and an arm extending laterally from said column, an elongated support rod depending downwardly from said arm, a looper on the lower end of said rod positioned outwardly from said points in position to engage and manipulate the thread carried through the work by said needle to form a chain stitch, means mounting said rod for movement pivotally about a point along the longitudinal axis thereof and axially along and rotationally about said longitudinal axis, said mounting means including a rod sup port slideably engaging said rod at a first point intermediate its ends and restraining said rod against lateral move ment at said first point, a second means engaging said rod at a second point axially spaced along said rod from said first support and movable laterally with respect thereto to pivot said rod about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, means positioning said rod axially with respect to said rod support, and means positioning said rod rotationally with respect to said rod support means.

16. The dial looper sewing machine as defined in claim 15 wherein said rod support means includes a first spherical bearing slideably engaging said rod and fixed against lateral movement, and said second rod engaging means includes a second spherical bearing slideably engaging said rod and laterally movable along a predetermined path to pivot said rod within said first spherical bearing.

17. The dial looper sewing machine as defined in claim 15 including a first cam actuated linkage for moving said support rod along its longitudinal axis, a second cam actuated linkage for moving said second rod engaging means laterally to pivot said rod about said first support means, and :a third cam actuated linkage rotating said rod about said longitudinal axis.

18. The dial looper sewing machine as defined in claim 17 wherein each of said cam actuated linkages are actuated by a separate cam track and follower, the separate cams each being mounted on and rotatable with a common driven shaft positioned within said laterally extending arm.

19. The dial looper sewing machine as defined in claim 18 wherein each of said cam actuated linkages for moving said rod includes adjusting means for varying the magnitude of movement imparted to the rod by the respective means without varying the configuration of the cam operating the respective means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,725,825 8/1929 Paxton 112-25 2,012,560 8/1935 Goodman 112-25 2,050,563 8/1936 De Spain 112-25 3,023,720 3/1962 Underwood et al. 112-25 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

6. IN A DIAL LOOPER SEWING MACHINE HAVING WORK IMPALING POINTS EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM A ROTATABLE DIAL AND A NEEDLE MOVABLE ALONG SUCCESSIVE POINTS TO CARRY A THREAD THROUGH WORK IMPALED ON THE POINTS, A LOOPER MECHANISM COMPRISING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING ROD, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ROD FOR MOVEMENT AXIALLY ALONG ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS ROTATABLY ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AND PIVOTALLY ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING LATERALLY OF SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AND A LOOPER ELEMENT ON THE LOWER END OF SAID ROD POSITIONED OUTWARDLY OF THE DIAL POINTS TO ENGAGE AND MANIPULATE THE THREAD CARRIED THROUGH THE WORK BY THE NEEDLE. 